San denounces N$500 monthly BIG grant
With the ever-increasing food prices, a San community living at Nkurenkuru says the N$500 monthly grant they receive from the state is not enough to sustain them.
Following the discontinuation of the food bank, government has resorted to substituting the monthly food parcels with a Basic Income Grant (BIG) of N$500 per household.
However, when Namibian Sun recently visited a San community that has been resettled within the town of Nkurenkuru in the Kavango West, the community expressed disappointment, claiming that surviving on N$500 is not possible.
The group, who spoke to Namibian Sun on condition of anonymity as they fear victimisation, said food prices are increasing rapidly.
They further argued that it is a known fact that members of the marginalised community are not skilled or educated, and it is difficult to find jobs to supplement the hand-outs from government, and they expect the government to give them more money if they cannot sustain the food bank.
One of the sources said that they have up to four or five children and to live off a mere N$500 per month is impossible.
“To be honest with you, the N$500 we get is not enough. How can a family of six depend on N$500 per month? Apart from buying food, we also need to buy toiletries and the children have a lot of needs. The government did not think well for us this time around,” the source remarked.
Another source said that they are forced to do odd jobs such as working in the mahangu fields of people who do not pay them a decent wage.
Ministry explains
The marginalised community falls under the care of the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Child Welfare.
When contacted for comment, the ministry’s executive director, Esther Lusepani, explained that the N$500 per month is a result of the closure of the food bank.
She added that the N$500 per beneficiary was calculated based on the budget that was meant for the food bank.
This will run for the next three years.
“The N$500 was calculated on the budget of the food bank because we did not receive an additional income from finance.
"We were only allowed to use the money which we have. This is for the MTEF this year, next year and the other year we will receive the same amount. We can only spend what we have received for the food bank,” she explained.
Lusepani said they had consultations with the food bank beneficiaries in regard to the N$500 per beneficiary.
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Following the discontinuation of the food bank, government has resorted to substituting the monthly food parcels with a Basic Income Grant (BIG) of N$500 per household.
However, when Namibian Sun recently visited a San community that has been resettled within the town of Nkurenkuru in the Kavango West, the community expressed disappointment, claiming that surviving on N$500 is not possible.
The group, who spoke to Namibian Sun on condition of anonymity as they fear victimisation, said food prices are increasing rapidly.
They further argued that it is a known fact that members of the marginalised community are not skilled or educated, and it is difficult to find jobs to supplement the hand-outs from government, and they expect the government to give them more money if they cannot sustain the food bank.
One of the sources said that they have up to four or five children and to live off a mere N$500 per month is impossible.
“To be honest with you, the N$500 we get is not enough. How can a family of six depend on N$500 per month? Apart from buying food, we also need to buy toiletries and the children have a lot of needs. The government did not think well for us this time around,” the source remarked.
Another source said that they are forced to do odd jobs such as working in the mahangu fields of people who do not pay them a decent wage.
Ministry explains
The marginalised community falls under the care of the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Child Welfare.
When contacted for comment, the ministry’s executive director, Esther Lusepani, explained that the N$500 per month is a result of the closure of the food bank.
She added that the N$500 per beneficiary was calculated based on the budget that was meant for the food bank.
This will run for the next three years.
“The N$500 was calculated on the budget of the food bank because we did not receive an additional income from finance.
"We were only allowed to use the money which we have. This is for the MTEF this year, next year and the other year we will receive the same amount. We can only spend what we have received for the food bank,” she explained.
Lusepani said they had consultations with the food bank beneficiaries in regard to the N$500 per beneficiary.
[email protected]
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